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“A final walkthrough isn’t required, it’s just a really, really good idea,” says Polly Watts of real estate brokerage service Sundae. Making the most of that final walkthrough is critical, and these real estate experts have some tips on what to look for and what to ask as you do a final sweep of your new digs. What Is a Final Walkthrough? If you’ve purchased a home, you’re likely familiar with the process of attending a showing (or viewing photos online), putting in an offer, then having an inspection done....

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Site Requirements Carefully consider your planting site before adding wintergreen to the landscape. Wintergreen has specific site requirements, but if your site fits the bill, it is a great plant. Choose a part- to full-shade site that has loose, sandy soil. In its native environment wintergreen thrives in cool, damp woodland settings, especially under evergreen trees. Wintergreen Care Must-Knows Plant wintergreen in spring or early summer. Water plants thoroughly and frequently through the first growing season after planting....

How to Make a Homemade Peanut Butter Cup I used a small ceramic ramekin (Target) for easier access to the good stuff, but you can use a mug or another small microwave-safe dish. I listed specific measurements here, but this is a forgiving recipe. Go for more of one ingredient to better suit your peanut butter-to-chocolate ratio preference. Made just like the instructions, I found the peanut butter cup super creamy, sweet, and oh-so-delicious....

¾ cup oil-packed tomatoes Olive oil ¼ cup pine nuts or slivered almonds ¼ cup snipped fresh basil ½ teaspoon salt 4 teaspoon bottled minced garlic

To successfully grow cacti in a cold-winter climate, it’s important to understand how they grow. All cacti are succulents—plants that can store water in their roots, stems, and leaves—but not all succulents are cacti. It’s sometimes difficult to tell which succulent is really a cactus, but there’s one identifier you can always look for. All cacti (and only cacti) have spine cushions, called areoles, which appear as small bumps on their flesh....

Growing Mint Outdoors Plant mint in full sun or part shade. It can adapt to just about any type of soil, but develops the best foliage in moist, well-drained soil that has been enriched with compost. Keep the area around your mint free of weeds. Otherwise, it looks untidy, and the weeds may reduce yields and affect flavor. Divide your mint every few years. Frequent cutting keeps mints looking attractive. As with basil and other flowering herbs grown for their leaves, remove the flowers as they appear, and pinch back the stems to encourage shorter, bushier growth....

To truly enjoy it, you want to be confident that the hammock is secure. To establish this peace of mind, invest in reliable hammock hardware, rope, or tree straps for support and follow these steps to hang your hammock properly. Hammock Hanging Options There are many different ways to hang a hammock from trees or posts using hammock hardware, ropes, and tree straps, and you can also use a hammock stand if sturdy supports aren’t already available....

A good night’s sleep is critical for good health, and lighting can play a role in helping you get the best possible rest. The type of lighting, timing, and color of light can all have significant effects on your body’s internal clock. These expert tips from the American Lighting Association will help you outfit your bedroom for a sleep-inducing setup. How Lighting Affects Sleep First, let’s dig into how light—both natural and artificial—can either help regulate or interfere with your sleep schedule....

1. Clean the refrigerator drip pan. The drip pan is a small tray that captures condensation from your fridge so it doesn’t leak into your kitchen. The heat from the refrigerator coils usually causes this moisture to evaporate, but if excess liquid builds up, it can result in a pool of foul-smelling water. The drip pan is underneath the fridge and typically accessed from behind a kick plate in the front or back of the appliance....

How to Make Blueberry Pancakes We’ll reference our blueberry pancakes recipe, but you can easily start with a classic pancake or buttermilk pancake recipe and simply add up to ½ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries. Step 1: Prepare Blueberry Pancake Batter In a large bowl ($10, Target) stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, use a fork to combine egg, buttermilk, and oil. Add the egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture....

American Classics: Pound Cake The perfect pound cake takes focus and a watchful eye, which garner a tender, fine-crumbed dessert with a velvety texture. See the following slides for chef Scott Peacock’s classic recipe and step-by-step instructions making the ultimate pound cake. See our Classic Pound Cake recipe Go for Cold Starting with cold butter and cream cheese prevents these important ingredients from becoming too warm during the mixing. “Beat just until the butter begins to soften, appears shiny, and is malleable,” says Scott....

Study Your Habits Do you often feel stumped by whether a certain style will work in your home? You may know your decorating style better than you think. Study your shopping (and pinning) patterns. Do you tend to gravitate toward the same pieces, colors, and patterns when you shop? Look at what you’re saving from magazines and on Pinterest to see if there’s a common denominator. It’s OK to like a lot of styles, but it’s also good to just appreciate some from afar....

How to Make DIY Roman Shades with Blinds Starting with a mini blind ($10, The Home Depot) helps structure your DIY Roman shade. When selecting fabric, choose one that will hold the folds nicely and filter sunlight while providing privacy. Look for a fabric in the home decor section of a fabric store, which tends to stock these heavier fabrics. Gather the fabric about a yard from the end and let it fall to see how it drapes....

Two Types of Mulch There are two basic kinds of mulch: Organic and inorganic. Organic materials—wood, bark, compost, grass clippings, and leaves—will decompose and improve the soil. They last a few years, after which you’ll need to add more. In addition, organic mulches are easy to spread and do no harm if mixed into soil, as will happen when planting annuals or shrubs, for example. Stone, by contrast, is meant to be a more or less permanent mulch, to be put in place atop a layer of landscape fabric and left alone....

Spray painting wicker furniture is the best way to get a consistent finish, but this project can get messy, so do it outdoors when the weather forecast calls for a day or two of warm temperatures, calm winds, and no rain. When you’re ready to get started, follow these simple steps.

1. Choose the Right Container Much like plants, containers have their own characteristics to take into account, including weight, sensitivity to weather changes, and appearance. You’ll also want to consider your budget, space, and style when choosing a container. Keep in mind that the larger the size, the less you’ll need to water, but whatever you choose, always make sure the container has holes in the bottom for drainage. Some common types of pots include the following....

What is powdery mildew? Lots of plants, both edible and ornamental, can get powdery mildew. Unlike many other fungal plant diseases, the fungi that cause powdery mildew thrive in hot, dry weather that’s often the norm in mid- to late summer. As these fungi grow on the surface of leaves, they clog leaf pores and block sunlight that the plant needs to grow. The disease can be introduced to the garden on plants purchased from the nursery, or from spores in the soil....

How to Store Muffins and Quick Bread When storing yeast bread, make sure the storage environment is dry enough to maintain the crusty exterior. Storage for quick bread is different. For these, the goal is to retain moisture. To store muffins and quick bread for the best flavor and texture, use these tips. Freezing Muffins and Quick Bread If you don’t plan on devouring your homemade blueberry muffins or cornbread within 3 days of baking (and there are no signs of mold), freezing them is your best bet....